Jared
They say love and hate dance together on one line.
My feelings for Layla don’t dance on the line; they destroy it.
It’s been seven years since she disappeared.
And now she’s back, but things have changed—I’ve changed.
I’m no longer the Jared she remembers, the boy who wanted to protect her.
I’m very much my father’s son, and I take what I want, and what I want is Layla.
But this time, I’m keeping her forever.
Layla
Seven years—that’s how long it’s been since I’ve seen him.
After painstakingly putting myself back together, I’m finally ready to start a life without his memory chasing my every step.
Imagine my surprise when my new beginning leads me straight back to him.
Only he’s not the boy I remember.
He’s angry.
Damaged.
Hiding secrets that want to destroy him.
He hates me. He wants me.
I’m not sure I’ll survive the man he has become. His demons threaten to destroy us both.
Broken People Duet: Deceive Me is created by Vi Carter, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

Broken People Duet (1): Deceive Me

Jared keeps his fingers threaded through mine as we enter.


Jared’s room is tidy, but that doesn’t surprise me. It always was. A large queen-size bed is situated on a huge black shaggy rug. The moss green bedding drapes on either side of the bed. The furniture is antique, like the rest of the house. The wardrobe, nightstand, and dresser all match. Once again, I can’t stop the thought that it’s so far away from how we grew up.


Jared releases my hand and walks over to his bed. He sits down and observes me as I check out his room. My heels click on the dark wooden floor. The blank walls are freshly painted in a soft gray. Jared was always a fan of movie posters, and now I wonder what had happened to them. Did they remind him of before, or had he just outgrown that time of his life? It’s moments like these that I realize we lost so much time with each other.


Chapter 66: Layla